From NPR's story today, "Cuban Rafters Still Attempt Difficult Journey To The U.S.":

NPR: [W]hy such a spike in the number of rafters now? After all, since last year, Cuba has allowed people to freely travel abroad. Oscar Rivera, who heads Church World Service in Miami, says Cuba's economic reforms have so far failed to deliver. In fact, they've left many Cubans feeling poorer.

OSCAR RIVERA: They got some false hopes when the changes were introduced a few years ago. But as time goes by, they see that there's no difference in the way that they're still being controlled.